Tripod for Pinhole Camera

Here's how to make a telescoping tripod for a Pinhole camera. It will allow the camera to be held steady to ensure a focused photograph.

It helps in the appreciation of 'old school' photography.

9 Empty Beverage cans

Length of cord

Some paper

Glue

Packing Tape

2 pieces of 9mm dowel

• Make some aluminium sheet by removing the top and bottom of a beer can using a craft knife.
• Cut down the middle,
• Flatten by rolling against an edge.
• Make 9 of these.

• Secure a couple of pieces of dowel together with Sellotape.
• Wrap with aluminium sheet, previously made and secure with packing tape.

• Make telescopic tubes by wrapping another aluminium sheet over the previously made tube and securing with packing tape.
• Make a third oval tube by wrapping and securing around another aluminium sheet.
• Make 3 telescopic legs.

• Roll up some A4 paper and tightly insert into the feet end of each of the 3 telescopic legs.
• Mark where the tubes are about to come out of each other with a permanent marker.

• Insert some short lengths of cords covered in glue into the top end of 3 of the tubes as shown to join them together and make flexible hinges.

• Attach a pinhole camera to the top of the completed tripod using blue masking tape. To lock the legs at the desired height, just rotate the tube half a turn.
• You are now 'good to go' to take some fantastic pinhole photos.

Rather than using tape to hold the pinhole camera to the stand, a holder can be made using a couple of beverage cans.

• Cut the top and bottom off 2 cans using a craft knife and trimming with scissors.
• Cut each into 1/3 loop sections and then cut the loops into 2 half. This will make 12 pieces.
• Make each of these 'half moon' a little tighter by rolling against an edge.
• Sandwich them together using contact adhesive to form a laminate of 12 layers of can.
• Attach the holder to the tripod legs to hold the pinhole camera.